Dispenser for dispensing granular and powdered material and the like



W. PRESTON DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING GRANULAR AND Feb. 6, 1968 POWDERED MATERIAL AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1966 WWW/wage 1 1 I I n lllllllzilllllllllflll IIHIIHIIIIII.

jweizizw amp/"4 62972 BY MAX F2. KRAUS ATTY Feb. 6, 1968 w, TON 3,367,543

DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING GRANULAR AND POWDERED MATERIAL AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 9, 1966 I 2 Sheets-Shem 2 5g 72 f6 .52 60 I 3d I H 7 50 4a 50 i 74 4,696 I BYMAX 7?. KRAUS ATTY United States Patent C 3,367,543 DESPENSER FOR DlSPENSlNG GRANULAR AND POWDERED MATERIAL AND THE LIKE William Preston, Chicago, IlL, assignor to Louis Frankel,

Chicago, Ill. Filed Feb. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 526,254 10 Claims. (Cl. 222285) ABSTRACT OF THE DHSCLQSURE A dispensing device for dispensing granular or powdered material having a stationary valve member and a reciprocable housing which contains upper and lower valve seats engaging the valve member to dispense either measured or unmeasured amounts of material.

This invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing granular and powdered material and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a dispenser for dispensing controlled amounts of granular or powdered material such as sugar and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispensing device which with each actuation thereof will dispense a measured quantity, for example, a teaspoonful of sugar or like material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which, in addition to dispensing a measured amount of material such as sugar or the like, may also be operated to dispense a continuous flow of such material if desired.

In restaurants, commissaries, and the like, particularly where coffee or a similar beverage is poured into a paper cup for use outside the premises, sugar is usually added by dipping a teaspoon into a sugar container and then pouring the contents of the spoon into the paper cup. This is time consuming, particularly when a large number of cups are filled. With the present invention this procedure is eliminated in that there is provided a dispenser wherein the cup is positioned adjacent the actuating means and by moving the actuating means upwardly and then permitting said means to drop by gravity a measured amount of sugar from the dispenser is dispensed into the cup. Another feature of this invention is that by operating the actuating means and holding it in a certain position there can be a continuous flow of sugar from the dispenser if desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser having adjustable means whereby the measured amounts of the product to be dispensed may be varied.

The problem in connection with dispensing material such as sugar is that the granular material lodges between the moving parts and renders the device inoperative. With the present invention this problem is eliminated in that the parts between which the granular material passes are properly positioned and spaced so as to never impair the operation. Therefore, there is provided a foolproof dispenser which will operate each time it is actuated.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser, forming this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, and showing the actuating means in a normal position being actuated.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the actuating member in its upward actuating position, and

3,367,543 Patented Feb. 6, 1958 FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the parts comprising the dispensing means.

The dispensing unit is generally indicated by the numeral 10. It is supported on a stand 12, which stand includes a base 14 having an upright 16 secured thereto. The dispensing device includes an annular shaped housing 18.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a supporting bracket 20 connected to the housing 18 and to the upright 16 supports the dispensing unit on the stand. The bracket 20 has one end provided with an opening 21 which fits on top portion 22 of the upright 16 and is secured thereto by means of a thumb nut 23. The opposite end of the bracket is arcuate-shaped as at 24 to conform to the shape of the housing and is secured to the housing by fastening members 25. The dispensing unit may be detached from the upright or stand through the medium of the Wing nut.

The housing 18 is open at the top and has a funnelshaped bottom 26 provided with a central opening 28 through which the material is dispensed. The upper portion 30 is of the housing has a larger circumference than the remainder of the housing, providing a shoulder 32 therebetween. The housing 18 has a pair of diametrically positioned guide sleeves 34 which may be formed integrally with said housing, which extend through the funnel-shaped bottom 26 of the housing. The guide sleeves slidably receive the slidable guide rods of the slidable member, presently to be described.

The housing is formed preferably of a plastic material. Supported within the housing 18 and resting on the shoulder 32 is an annular partition or plate 36 which has a central opening 37 communicating with a depending tubular portion 38. Extending upwardly of the partition 36 and over the central opening are spaced bridge members 4% which centrally support a boss 42 having an internal bore 43.

A screw 44 is secured to the boss 42 by nut 45 and extends downwardly into and beyond the tubular portion 38. A truncated cone-shaped valve 46 having an internally threaded bore 47 is in threaded engagement with the screw 44, as shown in FIG. 2 and 5. The truncatedshaped valve 46 is adjustable axially on said screw 44 to raise or lower said valve. The truncated valve is provided with an angled recess 48 therein to receive a nylon plug 49 which engages the screw 44 for the purpose of locking the valve on said screw and to prevent accidental rotation of the valve with respect to said screw. The underside of said valve 46 is provided with spaced openings 50 to be engaged by a persons fingers for rotating same, or a tool may be inserted for rotating said valve in adjusting the valve relative to the screw. The aforementioned parts of the dispenser are the stationary members insofar as the operation of the dispensing unit is concerned. The members or parts which move relative thereto and hereinafter defined as the movable members of said dispenser will now be described.

The valve housing generally indicated by the numeral 52 includes a diamond-shaped top plate 53 having a depending cylindrical body 54. The top plate 53 has a central opening 55 which communicates with the cylindrical body 54. As best been in FIGS. 2 and 6, the cylindrical body 54 is provided with three spaced wall segments 56 adjacent the upper end of the cylindrical body, which are formed integrally with the cylindrical body and which reduces the diameter of said cylindrical body adjacent the upper end. The wall segments 56 are each provided with an inwardly extending shoulder 57.

Fixedly secured within the valve housing 54, more particularly within the wall segments 56 is a tubular member which forms the upper valve seat 58. The upper end of the valve seat rests against the shoulders 57 of the valve housing 54. The valve seat is formed preferably of a stainless steel while the valve housing may be made and molded of plastic. The upper valve seat 58 is fixedly secured to the cylindrical body of the valve housing and extends below the Wall segments 56 and terminates centrally of the height of the valve housing. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5 an annular space is provided between the upper valve seat 58 and the tubular portion 38 depending from the partition wall 36. This space is very important for in the operation of the device as the valve housing 54 and upper valve seat 60 move upwardly and downwardly as one member in relation to the tubular body 38, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the granular material will pass through the annular space 60 and will not render the parts inoperative relative to each other.

The lower inside wall of the valve housing 54 is internally threaded as at 62 to threadedly receive a lower valve seat designated generally by the numeral 64. The lower valve seat is of annular or ring-like shape and is externally threaded as at 65 to engage the threads 62 of the valve housing. The inside wall of the lower valve seat 64 is conical, as indicated at 66. The lower valve seat is provided with spaced recesses 68 which receive a tool for rotating said lower valve seat relative to said valve housing. Adjustment of said lower valve seat 64 is thus possible as is adjustment of the valve 46 to increase or decrease the measured amount of the material to be dispensed. The lower valve seat is provided with a recess 69 to receive a nylon plug 70 which engages the threads 62 of the valve housing and locks said lower valve seat against accidental turning.

The wings or lateral extensions of the diamond-shaped plate 53 of the valve housing 52 are each provided adjacent their outer ends with openings 72, to each of which is secured a guide rod 74. The upper end of each of the guide rods has a reduced diameter providing a shoulder which engages the underside of the wing or extension. The reduced end of the guide rod extends through the opening 72 and each said guide rod is suitably locked to said extensions by means of a bowed snap ring 76 and fastening means secured to the reduced end of the rod. The guide rods 74 extend through the guide sleeves 34 with the opposite ends of the guide rods secured to a ring plate 78.

The ring plate 78 is provided with a pair of spaced upwardly extending bosses 80 having an internal bore into which the lower ends of the guide rods are fixedly secured. The ring plate 78 is in effect an actuating ring in that a cup or the like is positioned adjacent and underneath the actuating ring and by being manually pushed upwardly moves the movable or reciprocable elements, which includes the guide rods 74, the valve housing 52, and the upper and lower valve seats 58 and 64 secured to the valve housing, upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 5, and then when the cup or manual pressure is removed from the actuating ring the movable or reciprocal member will drop by gravity back to the position shown in FIG. 2.

A tubular container 82, preferably transparent and open at its opposite ends, is positioned to rest on the partition 36. The container is detachably secured to the housing 18 by screws 84 or other fastening members. The container is filled with material to be dispensed, such as sugar or the like. A lid 86 is removably positioned on the top of the container to permit filling of the container.

Briefly, the operation is as follows. The normal position of the dispenser is shown in FIG. 2, in which the movable or reciprocal member is positioned relative to the valve 46 so that the upper valve seat 58 is in engagement with the valve 46, thereby blocking any flow of the material. As will be seen in FIG. 2, the material within the tubular container passes between the bridge members 40 of the partition 36, enters the depending portion 38 and also enters the tubular member forming the upper valve seat 58 and is blocked from passing through the upper valve seat by reason of the valve. When the reciprocal or movable member is elevated, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper valve seat 58 is moved upwardly away from the valve 46, thereby permitting the trapped material to enter and pass into the valve housing 54. However, the material will also be trapped and will be prevented from falling through and be dispensed by reason of the fact that the lower valve seat 65 is in engagement with the valve 46, as shown in FIG. 5. When the upward manual pressure is released against the reciprocal member it will drop by gravity and as it drops the lower valve seat 64 will move away from the valve 46 and the material within the valve housing 54 will fiow out of the bottom opening of the lower valve 64 and through the funnel-shaped r end 26 of the housing 18 and be discharged into the cup being held adjacent the actuating ring 78. As the reciprocal movable member drops to its fully downward position, as shown in FIG. 2, the valve 46 will engage the upper valve seat 58 and again block the flow of material. Thus, with each upward manual movement of the reciprocal member and the release of same, a prescribed and predetermined amount of material is discharged from the dispenser. With the arrangement shown, a teaspoonful of sugar may be dispensed with each actuation of the device, or, if desired, by manually adjusting the valve 46 on the screw 44 or by adjusting the lower valve seat 64 in relation to the valve housing 54 the measured or metered amount of material may be changed to the amount desired to be dispensed.

As heretofore stated, the upper valve seat 58 is spaced from the tubular portion 38, therefore, as said upper valve moves relative to said tubular portion with each actuation of the device there is no sticking or grinding of the material to be dispensed between said movable elements, and the operation of the device is foolproof.

If for any reason it is desired to have a continuous flow and discharge of the material from the dispenser, this may be accomplished by elevating the reciprocal member to an intermediate position between that shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. In this intermediate position the valve 46 will not then be in engagement with the upper valve seat or the lower valve seat and consequently the material in the tubular container will continue to flow through and be dispensed, until such time as the reciprocal member drops by gravity.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for dispensing a measured or metered amount of granular or powdered material comprising a housing, a container positioned above said housing for containing the material to be dispensed and supplying said material to said housing, a centrally positioned tubular member in said housing through which the material passes from said container to said housing, a stationary valve member supported to extend within said housing below said tubular member, a reciprocal member reciprocally mounted with respect to said housing, said reciprocal member having a central tubular portion which provides an upper valve seat, said reciprocating member having a lower valve seat, each said valve seat adapted to be engaged by said valve member, said upper valve seat engaging said valve member when said reciprocal member is in its lower position with the lower valve seat engaging said valve member when the reciprocal member is in its uppermost position, said tubular portion of the reciprocable member being spaced from said tubular member so as to be out of contact therewith at all times so as not to interfere with the material passing through said tubular member.

2. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the valve member is adjustable vertically.

3. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the reciprocal member includes a valve housing supporting the upper and lower valve seats and in which the lower valve seat is adjustable relative to said valve housing.

4. A structure defined in claim 1 in which when the reciprocal valve housing is in normal unactuated position the valve is in engagement with the upper valve seat to block the flow of material through said valve housing.

5. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the reciprocal member has an upper valve seat and a lower valve seat each alternately engaging the valve member with each actuation of said reciprocal member.

6. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the housing is provided with a funnel-shaped bottom wall and in which the reciprocal member has means normally extending below said funnel-shaped bottom wall.

7. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the valve member is vertically adjustable and in which the lower valve seat is adjustable with respect to said reciprocal member.

8. A device for dispensing a measured or metered amount of material comprising a housing, a horizontal plate supported by said housing and having a depending tubular body, a valve housing positioned below said plate, a container positioned above said housing for containing the material to be dispensed and supplying said material to said valve housing, a valve member supported to extend within said valve housing, a reciprocal member which includes the valve housing reciprocally mounted with respect to said housing, said reciprocal member having an upper valve seat and a lower valve seat, each said valve seat adapted to be engaged by said valve member, said upper valve seat engaging said valve member when said reciprocal member is in its lower position with the lower valve seat engaging said valve member when the reciprocal member is in its uppermost position, said tubular body spaced from the upper valve seat so as not to interfere with the reciprocal movement of said upper valve seat.

9. A structure defined in claim 8 in which the horizontal plate has a threaded member which supports the valve member.

10. A device for dispensing a measured or metered amount of material comprising a housing, a container positioned above said housing for containing the material to be dispensed and supplying said material to said housing, a valve member supported to extend within said housing, a reciprocal member which includes a valve housing reciprocally mounted with respect to said housing, said valve housing having an upper valve seat and a lower valve seat, each said valve seat adapted to be engaged by said valve member, said upper valve seat engaging said valve member when said reciprocal member is in its lower position with the lower valve seat engaging said valve member when the reciprocal member is in its uppermost position, a plurality of rods extending through the first mentioned housing, and a ring secured to the lower end of said rods exteriorly of said first mentioned housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1910 Newland 222-361 X 12/1948 Wheeler et al 222--453 X 

